THE MALTESE FALCON, built by Leonard Dowden is a large air-cooled, four cylinder, side-valve four-stroke aero engine. It has a magneto turning at twice crankshaft speed for the ignition. Lubrication is pressure fed from a 400cc sump. The bore and stroke are both 44mm, giving a total displacement of 260cc.

It was originally designed by Jim Shelley as a power plant for his 15 foot span model Taylorcraft, with a scale-like prop and sound, to replace a 100cc Flymo two-stroke engine previously used.

The Maltese Falcon turns a scale 34 x 18in. propeller at 2500 rpm. It measures 8in. in length and depth, and 13in. in width across the heads. Standard Honda pistons can be used if you want to get your Maltese Falcon running as quickly as possible.

While not a beginner’s project, this engine can be built by any competent model engineer. What else you could drive with it?

Perhaps, with modifications to the cooling arrangements, large scale model road vehicles such as  a  large  scale  model  tractor?  Or  a  7 1/4in. gauge railway locomotive? Even an outboard motor, a GT lawn mower and a motor bike have all been suggested as possibilities. Jim Shelley described the engine in a book published by Camden, with full drawings and 36 A4 pages of notes, hints and tips on building the engine, plus numerous photos of parts and set-ups for making them. http://www.camdenmin.co.uk/building-the-maltese-falcon-special-price-p-2183.html

Jim Shelley designed the Minimag magneto for the Maltese Falcon and originally made them for other builders. Now this work has been taken on by Minimag Co - see: http://minimagneto.co.uk/index.php

We include photos of Jim Shelley’s original and the Minimag, as well as the super engine built by Leonard Dowden of the SMEE.